Can Dogs Eat Cheese?

Dogs and cheese

Who doesn’t love a good sharp or stinky fromage? Certainly not us! But does this mean it’s fair game for your pit bull or Chihuahua? It depends on a couple factors. The short answer to the question “can dogs eat cheese?” is usually, if they’re not lactose intolerant. Read on for the hard and fast facts on all things dairy and dogs.

Keep your eyes peeled

First things first: make sure to determine whether or not your dog is lactose intolerant. Very few dogs are, but it’s always a good idea to test your dog with a small amount of cheese first, lest you face the stinky wrath of a dog’s upset belly—which, trust us, no one wants to deal with.

Can dogs eat cheese? And should they?

VetInfo.com advises that, “Cheese is a good source of protein for your dog. It also provides vitamins and minerals, such as calcium, Vitamin A, B-complex vitamins and essential fatty acids. A small piece of cheese can also provide the perfect camouflage for medications that your dog may need to take someday, so it can be helpful to offer your dog occasional treats of cheese, but only if his body can handle it.”

So referring back to our earlier advice, be sure to confirm your dog can handle even small amounts of dairy before committing to feeding him cheesy treats.

Because a lot of cheeses are high in fat, avoid overfeeding. Despite your dog’s sad doe eyes, you definitely know what’s best. Things that are generally safe for canines include cottage cheese and plain yogurt.

DogFoodAdvisor.com has a handy guide available here on the amount of lactose found in common dairy products. From Swiss cheese to sour cream, this useful graph will help you navigate the world of dogs and dairy.